In-line multi-colored clothing printer

Abstract

Improvements in printing on shirts are disclosed. The shirt printer incorporates multiple elongated single color print heads arranged in-line. As opposed to using standard three or four colors, the clothing printer uses multiple heads where each print head uses a single specific color to eliminate mixing of the colors to obtain a specific hue. Between each print head, a dryer is placed to ensure each color is dry before the application on a subsequent color is applied. The method reproduces a similar method to clothing that is silk-screened. Clothing is placed on blank clothing holders and passes through the printing machine in an assembly line format. Print heads can be arranged on both sides of the blank clothing holder to allow for simultaneous printing on multiple sides of the clothing. Three printing styles are disclosed for a gauntlet style printers and a barrel style printer.

1 . An in-line multicolored clothing printer comprising:
 at least one fixed printing head arranged in an elongated printing bank;   a target or platen fixture for temporally retaining an article to be printed;   a transportation mechanism for controllably moving said target past said elongated bank in a single pass such that all printing from said at least one fixed head is deposited on said article in a linear path, and   a controller that controls dispensing of color from said at least one elongated printing bank and movement of said transportation mechanism.   
   
   
       2 . The according to  claim 1  wherein said multiple fixed printing heads arranged in an elongated bank are used where each of said fixed printing heads provide a different color of print. 
   
   
       3 . The according to  claim 1  that further includes a treatment station after said at least one fixed printing head arranged in an elongated bank. 
   
   
       4 . The according to  claim 1  wherein said printing process is from ink jet, Piezo, thermal, laser print, laser discharge, laser etching, laser cutting, laser engraving, ink jet hot melt ink, air brush, chemical discharge or etching. 
   
   
       5 . The according to  claim 3  wherein said treatment station is from chemical treatment, energy transfer: conventional heat, air forced hot or cold, ionizations, infrared wave, UV light, laser cure CO2 or YAK. 
   
   
       6 . The according to  claim 1  wherein said target or platen fixture is for temporally retaining an article of clothing. 
   
   
       7 . The according to  claim 1  wherein said printing head in said elongated printing bank includes a plurality of print separate printing elements arranged in a staggered array. 
   
   
       8 . The according to  claim 2  wherein said controller separates multiple colors and color combinations that are dispensed from each of said different colored elongated banks. 
   
   
       9 . The according to  claim 2  wherein said multiple fixed printing heads are arranged in a horizontal array. 
   
   
       10 . The according to  claim 2  wherein said multiple fixed printing heads are arranged in a vertical array. 
   
   
       11 . A rotary multicolored clothing printer comprising:
 at least one fixed printing head arranged in an elongated printing bank;   a target or platen fixture for temporally retaining an article to be printed;   a transportation mechanism for controllably turning said target past said elongated printing bank in a single arced rotation such that all printing from said at least one fixed head is deposited on said article in said arced rotation, and   a controller that controls dispensing of color from said at least one elongated printing bank and movement of said transportation mechanism.   
   
   
       12 . The according to  claim 11  wherein said multiple fixed printing heads arranged in an elongated bank are used where each of said fixed printing heads provide a different color of print. 
   
   
       13 . The according to  claim 11  that further includes a treatment station after said at least one fixed printing head arranged in an elongated bank. 
   
   
       14 . The according to  claim 11  wherein said printing process is from ink jet, Piezo, thermal, laser print, laser discharge, laser etching, laser cutting, laser engraving, ink jet hot melt ink, air brush, chemical discharge or etching. 
   
   
       15 . The according to  claim 13  wherein said treatment station is from chemical treatment, energy transfer: conventional heat, air forced hot or cold, ionizations, infrared wave, UV light, laser cure CO2 or YAK. 
   
   
       16 . The according to  claim 11  wherein said target or platen fixture is for temporally retaining an article of clothing. 
   
   
       17 . The according to  claim 11  wherein said printing head in said elongated printing bank includes a plurality of print separate printing elements arranged in a staggered array. 
   
   
       18 . The according to  claim 12  wherein said controller separates multiple colors and color combinations that are dispensed from each of said different colored elongated banks. 
   
   
       19 . The according to  claim 12  wherein said multiple fixed printing heads are arranged in an array around said arced rotation. 
   
   
       20 . The according to  claim 12  wherein said multiple fixed printing heads are arranged in opposing sides of said arced array.